And so we say farewell to 2019.
I think I’d rather say Good Riddance. We lost my uncle in June. But he wasn’t the only one. Too many leaves have fallen from the tree this year.
As the Queen remarked of 1992, this is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure.
But given it’s the end of the month, here’s another in my posts of photos from ten years ago: December 2009.
Metro (MTM) had just taken over from Connex, and in line with their contract, started covering all the Connex logos with their own.
In some cases though they just covered up the Connex logos with black tape…
…or blue tape. “[Censored] for Cancer”.
![[Censored] For Cancer](https://live.staticflickr.com/2577/4186781451_d846c676c6_c.jpg)
(See Peter Parker’s post where he shows the banners at Flinders Street station mid-changeover.)
Metro also put out their own advertising. By train probably is just about the quickest way from Ascot Vale to Broadmeadows (18 minutes back then; 19 now) – but probably one of the slowest if you just missed a train on a Sunday morning (add a 40 minute wait).
One quirk of the changeover from Connex to Metro was that when it was announced Connex had missed their final performance targets, passengers had to apply to Metro for the compensation.
Meanwhile the Brumby state government was busy promoting their transport plan, in particular the investments they were making in the rail network.
There was also a lot of prominent advertising for Myki – even though it hadn’t been launched in Melbourne yet. (This photo was snapped on the 17th of December 2009; Myki launched on the 29th.)
At railway stations, Myki vending machines were being installed alongside Metcard machines.
In the days before the Free Tram Zone, the City Circle was regularly packed. Nowadays, almost every tram in the CBD is packed.
The view over the west end of the City, towards Docklands. You can see the wheel under construction – not sure if this was the first one being disassembled, or the revised version being built.
A prominent reminder to motorists to give way to buses pulling out from the kerb. One the left you can see signs for Myer’s Lonsdale Street store, since replaced by Emporium. And that lady perhaps isn’t having a great day.
Happy new year everybody. Hope you’ve had a good one.
Good Riddance to 2019, and roll on 2020!
7 replies on “Old photos from December 2009”
Happy New Year, Daniel.
The train may well be the quickest way of going between two stations on the same line, or a station on the other side of the City (as long as you don’t have to wait long to connect, and can avoid going around the Loop). One may wonder why you would be travelling between Ascot Vale and Broadmeadows anyway!
I love that last piece of irony where Metro dealt with Connex’s last bit of underperformance. Presumably that was in the contract somewhere! Surely with Myki the compensation can take care of itself, rather than people needing to apply – and have travelled with a particular ticket. But that wouldn’t rely on inertia to keep the cost of compensation down!
2019 was an OK year for me and the family. Roll on 2020.
Daniel, happy New Year and thanks for your entertaining and enlightening posts, especially about PT.
Trains bearing both “PT>” and the “Metro” logo; is this like the awkward ongoing juxtaposition of “Coke” with “Coca Cola” on the same can?
Sincere happy 2020 Daniel. Sorry that 2019 was not a good year for you and you feel a bit sad about it. Onwards and upwards in 2020.
Does that mean Metro had to pay for Connex’s failure to deliver the performance targets? Seems kind of unfair to Metro!
Happy New Year!
Sorry to hear about your 2019. I hope 2020 is a better year.
As for the old Myer store, man that view has changed massively in 10 years!
I can remember there were cracks found in the wheel after the heatwave in early 2009.
I did not get Myki until I absolutely had to.
Strange they still sell paper tickets for the Boston rail system or you can get a card. Signage is appalling at the main Boston train station. Free to get a Silver Line bus from the airport but $2.50 to get to it. No signs up and you have to go all over the place if you have bags.